Skip to content

QUERY: HAYMARKET TOKEN MARKING PUZZLE

The E-Sylum (8/10/2013)


Book Content

Web site visitor Seth B. ( RedNBlack77@yahoo.com ) writes:

I was researching the Chicago Haymarket Riot tokens, as found on your site, because I used to own one. I am a labor history buff and purchased it off eBay years ago. I used to carry it with me in my pocket as a charm of sorts and lost it while visiting friends in Chicago.

Chicago Historical Society Haymarket token obverse The funny thing is that I believe that my particular token ended up at the Chicago Historical Society, as the one I had had a strange mark on one side that looked like "12a" (as pictured here).

Anyway, I would love to know what it may be worth and how to get another one. Your site has been the only other online resource, other than the Chicago Historical Society, that I have come across to know of these tokens. Any help or information you could offer would be fantastic. Many thanks.

Chicago Historical Society Haymarket token obverse closeup

If anyone knows of or has one for sale, please contact Seth. But does the "12a" marking look familiar to anyone? Certain museums and collectors would apply inventory/identification numbers to coins in their collections. Is that what this is, or is it just a coincidence that these marks look like that? -Editor

To visit the Chicago Historical Society database entry, see: Souvenir token of the Haymarket Square Riot. -- Front view (www.chicagohistory.org/hadc/visuals/artifact/011A11A.htm)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: BOMB BLAST NUMISMATIC SOUVENIRS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n17a07.html)

. Click here for free shipping over $50.
NNP is 100% non-profit and independent // Your feedback is essential and welcome. // Your feedback is essential and welcome.